Gap Inc. announced plans to open a new state-of-the-art Customer Experience Center in Longview, TX to support Old Navy’s growing online business.
The $140 million investment will support the creation of more than 500 full-time jobs in Longview by the end of 2023 and grow to more than 1,000 full-time jobs in the city over the next five years. The company also expects to create more than 1,000 part-time and seasonal jobs by 2026.
The new campus will become Gap Inc.’s latest facility to feature technology that has been tested and optimized in other campuses across the Gap Inc. network. When completed, the new facility will be able to process up to one million SKU’s per day.
“As we look to deliver on our three-year strategy and double our online business, we needed to expand our fulfillment network to provide a great experience for our customers today and ensure we have the ability to grow in the future,” said Shawn Curran, chief operating officer, Gap Inc. “We are thrilled to join the Longview community and look forward to developing a facility that will provide employment opportunities and job training to work alongside cutting-edge technology.”
While the Longview facility will initially serve Old Navy’s growing online business, many of the company’s Customer Experience Centers have the capability to serve online and retail orders in one facility.
The Longview facility is expected to total approximately 850,000 square feet. Construction will begin April 2021 with plans to be fully operational by August 2022. This campus will supplement its six existing campuses in North America, including Fresno, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Groveport, OH; Gallatin, TN; Fishkill, NY; and Brampton, Ontario.
While Gap Inc. had plans to open a new facility beforehand, as a result of changing customer needs during the pandemic, the timeline was accelerated to create more capacity for online growth.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Gap Inc. to Longview,” said Mayor, Dr. Andy Mack. “This significant investment by Gap Inc. will provide a large number of jobs for East Texans and is a continued diversification of our economy. We believe Gap Inc. will play a tremendous role in supporting economic growth and opportunity in our city, and we look forward to working together to deliver a lasting, positive impact on our community.”
Photo courtesy Old Navy